6-year-old misses bus, takes family car, drives 10 miles towards school before crashing

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D95HQJ8G0&show_article=1

6-year-old misses bus, takes family car, crashes

Jan 6 02:53 PM US/Eastern

WICOMICO CHURCH, Va. (AP) - A 6-year-old Virginia boy who missed his bus tried to drive to school in his family's sedan—and crashed.
State police say the boy suffered only minor injuries and authorities drove him to school after he was evaluated at a local hospital. Sgt. Tom Cunningham says the boy arrived shortly after lunch.

It happened around 7:40 a.m. Monday on Route 360, about 61 miles east of Richmond.

Police say the boy, who wasn't identified, missed the bus, took the keys to his family's 2005 Ford Taurus and drove 10 miles toward school while his mother was asleep.

He ran off the road several times before hitting an embankment and utility pole about a mile and a half from school.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Did he have his own set of keys?

[malaise]

20. I guess parents don't

assume six year old kids will drive off with the family car. He could have been killed.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Damn, that kid loves school!

Or hates being home with mom.

Six years old? That's pretty young!

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. I like that the "authorities" took him to school rather than tazing and arresting him.

[NYC_SKP]

6. More on that story (boys in protective custody, Mom's in jail without bond)

Maybe Home Life was not pleasant---having taught in Juvenile Halls, I've learned that school is the only safe place for some kids.

...He made at least two 90-degree turns, passed several cars and ran off the rural two-lane road several times before hitting an embankment and utility pole about a mile and a half from school.

The boy told police he learned to drive playing Grand Theft Auto and Monster Truck Jam video games.

"He was very intent on getting to school," said Northumberland County Sheriff Chuck Wilkins. "When he got out of the car, he started walking to school. He did not want to miss breakfast and PE."

His parents, Jacqulyn Deana Waltman, 26, and David Eugene Dodson, 40, are each charged with child endangerment, Wilkins said. Waltman is being held without bond. Dodson was released on a $5,000 bond.

It was not clear if they had attorneys.

The boy and his 4-year-old brother were placed in protective custody....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/06/AR2009010601195.html

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. He wanted breakfast, so the mother may have not fed him before school

Fathers a lot older than the mother, they aren't married, mother was sleeping when a 6 year left for school (unfed)... this isn't adding up to a "Leave it to Beaver" family. Thanks for the research.

[lady raven]

10. I think you are right , but just to be picky...

The article doesn't say if they are married or not. Yes, they have different last names. But I'm married and hubby and I have different last names.

Also, my 8 year old leaves for school unfed because he eats breakfast at school.

Just saying.

The red flag for me wasn't the age difference, last names, or not eating breakfast before leaving the house. It was that the father was under COURT ORDER not to leave the kids alone with their mother. WTF?

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. Yikes! I didn't read that. Something wrong there. definitely.

[NYC_SKP]

17. But it's the MOM who's in jail w/o bond!

So I don't know what that means...could be that dad is chums with the law, or any number of other things... :shrug:

[kiva]

8. Sounds like some major problems at home.

The boy's parents were later arrested and charged with felony child endangerment. Wilkins said the father, David E. Dodson, 40, was under court order not to leave the 6-year-old and his 4-year-old sibling alone with their mother, JacqulynD. Waltman, 26, at their home in the town of Wicomico Church. But Dodson left for work at 6:30 a.m., and Waltman was still asleep when the 6-year-old missed the bus and drove off at 7:40 a.m. for Northumberland Elementary School, Wilkins said.

The sheriff said that the boy seemed most concerned about missing breakfast--must have a breakfast program at school. Hope that child services takes a long look at the home.

[greguganus]

9. Held without bond? Court must be afraid she'll get her 6-year-old to drive across state lines. n/t

[kiva]

11. Since the father was under a court order not to leave him

or his younger sib alone with mom, I suspect there have been some major problems in the past.

[bobbolink]

18. "He did not want to miss breakfast and PE." School is often the only breakfast poor kids have!

We MUST do better!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4754889

[NYC_SKP]

21. That is true, and sad. The school lunch program is important, could be better.

What passes as "nutrition" is often not at all healthy.

Catsup counts as a vegetable, but is packed with high fructose corn syrup.

[bobbolink]

25. We need to guard what's there, and push for improvements!

It's just not a sexy issue "progressives" want to deal with.

Please see:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4754889

We MUST take action!

[Gwendolyn]

19. That little boy is going to grow up to be one hell of an independent thinker!

[QueenOfCalifornia]

23. This is a case

where the parents should never get these poor kids back.

WTF is a parent doing NOT getting up to get that little child off to school? Hell... I have to get up to get my 8 and 9 year old kids ready and am pretty sure I will be doing this till they are in HS.

:wtf:

[Jamastiene]

3. That sounds like one determined kid.

I would have gone back inside and gone back to bed. Oh well, I missed the bus. Time to go beddy bye. :evilgrin:

[bigwillq]

5. Well at least he tried to go to school.

:) Glad to see the boy is ok.


on edit: Would like to know where the parents were. The link doesn't provide that answer.

[Avalux]

13. Why the hell was the mother of a 6 year old ASLEEP while he left for school?

The poor kid.

[Deja Q]

14. She was resting up so she could chant "JERRY! JERRY!" when it started at 10AM?

:shrug:

[Avalux]

16. That's not funny

but probably true. :rofl:

[surrealAmerican]

26. It could be she works nights.

We really don't know. It may be the father who usually sees him off in the morning.

[Gwendolyn]

27. Or maybe she suffers from depression, or is otherwise mentally ill.

Not necessarily a Jerry Springer watcher. You're quite right. :)

[Shardik]

15. He must have been drinking.

Throw his ass in jail for twenty years! :)

[NYC_SKP]

22. But SHE is in jail without bond, dad is out.

Story developing...

[mahina]

24. My son was out on the street corner trying to hail a taxi after his first day of kindergarten.

I explained to him about afterschool care, some mommies have to stay at work, I'll come get you at etc. Ok Mom.

But the school called me at 2:30, he was trying to flag a cab. He had no money and didn't know our address. He said he thought he could just tell the guy "please take me home." When the school said he had to come back inside he told them no thanks, I'm fine. Goodbye.

I miss that little guy! Problem solving skills- pretty good. I made sure he knew his address after that.

By the way there are about zero cabs in Kailua mid day.